Answers to Figure Legend Questions

FIGURE 21.7 Figure 21.6 shows that overall consumption efficiency in aquatic ecosystems is higher than in terrestrial ecosystems, as the line fitting the aquatic ecosystem data lies above the line fitting the terrestrial ecosystem data, indicating that a greater percentage of the NPP is being consumed.

FIGURE 21.10 Brown trout might preferentially feed on predators that are more effective in controlling insect herbivores than are the predators that galaxias feed on. As a result, the effect of the brown trout on algal abundance would be greater than the effect of the galaxias.

FIGURE 21.16 Eight of the 21 species or feeding groups (38%) eat both plants and animals, and most of the others eat at more than one trophic level, indicating that omnivory is very common in this desert food web.